Walk in tub is made for the people who has limited mobility or are disable. Walk in tubs have either inward or outward-opening door. Further modifications have been done in walk in bathtubs to make them more comfortable like in some the chair-height set is given. But this feature is not present in all.
Walk in Bathtub According to Wikipedia.org
“Walk-in Bathtubs are specially equipped bathtubs that assist those with limited mobility, preparing for the future or disabled. Walk-in bathtubs enable the elderly, and those with mobility handicaps to safely enter and exit the bathtub without having to step over a 14″-17″ rim as is the case in a standard bathtub. Walk-in bathtubs also allow the elderly and disabled to safely take a bath without the assistance of another person.”
Types of Doors in Walk In Tub
Inward-opening walk in tub has the advantage of self-sealing but during emergency it becomes hard to get of this tub quickly because the door opens in inward direction.
In case of outward-opening walk in tub you can easily get out of the tub but you need extra sealing to keep it closed while in use. Manufacturers give extra seal for outdoor-opening tubs.
Instead of these two options you can also have the walk in tub that has sliding door.
More Options
Some walk in tubs also need low step-in because they either have higher seat or outward door opening or both.
You also have the option of air massage, jet massage, dual massage and soaker in certain brands of walk in tubs.
The most selling among all the material is the acrylic walk in tub that has been reinforced with fiberglass.
Most of the walk in tub comes with grab bar for extra safety. You must look for this feature while buying the special bathtub for yourself or for your family member.
How to Buy Walk in Tub?
Approvals
Check if the business has the BBB accreditation or not. As BBB accreditation is essential. Along with this walk in bathtubs must be approved by IAPMO, UL & ETL In some states walk in tubs are not allowed to be installed without approval of any of these bodies.
- UL – Underwriters Laboratories – http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/
- IAPMO – International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials – http://www.iapmo.org/Pages/splash.aspx
- ETL – http://www.intertek-etlsemko.com/portal/page/cust_portal/ITK_PGR/
Walk in Tub Material
The most popular ones are acrylic and fiberglass. Although there is very less visible difference between these two but you must know them before buying. More than 90% of walk in bathtubs are made from fiberglass. Fiberglass bathtubs are less expensive and more rigid than the acrylic. These are given triple gel coat epoxy that prevents the discoloration to a great extent. Acrylic on the other hand is non porous, easy to clean and maintain. At the same time the color does not fade.
Installation of Walk in Tubs
One does not need license or any special requirement for installing the walk in tub. You can call a plumber or a local contractor to do the job of installation. But you must check with the seller whether there is any special need of installation or not. You must be aware of such requirement as this will affect your budget. Some sellers provides installation in the complete package.
Cost and Pricing
There is huge range if we consider the cost and pricing factor in walk in tubs. There are many things like brand, type of material, size and color of walk in tub, quality, faucets, warranty, country or origin, installation, special features that determine the cost and price of the walk in tub.
Safety
Then you must check the safety features as falls are the second major cause of unintentional injuries that leads to death. Also fall may lead to nonfatal injury. So the walk in tub should have all the safety features to decrease the chances of fall. The material should not be slippery, tub should have a side bar to hold it during emergency, tub should be spacious etc. Look for other such safety features as per the requirement.
Walk in Tub Brands
- Safety Tubs http://www.safetytubs.com/
- Jacuzzi http://www.jacuzzi.com/
- American Standard http://www.americanstandard-us.com/
- Kohler you can buy this brand from Nexttag
- Re-Bath http://www.rebath.com/
Stores
- Lowe's
- Home Depot
- eBay
- Sears
- Amazon
Top Rated Walk in Tub Companies
Independent Home http://www.independenthome.com/
Erie Construction http://www.erieconstruction.com/
Premier Bathrooms www.premier-bathrooms.com
Sam’s Club www.samsclub.com
Safety Bath www.SafetyBath.com
Active Forever www.activeforever.com
Nice blog! There is a lot to consider when planning a bathroom for a disable a person. Thank you for sharing this information.
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